Middle English Dictionary Entry
vaut(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vaut(e n. Also vout(e, volte, volute, voghte, fot, waut(e, wout(e & (?error) wate, (errors) vaunt, voul, font; pl. vautes, etc. & woitez, (error) wantes. |
| Etymology | OF volte, vote, (chiefly AF) vout(e, vaute & ML volta, vouta, AL volūta, vota, vauta, wolta. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A structural or decorative arch; an arched interior roof-structure or ceiling; ~ ston, a vault stone; chirche ~;
(b) ?a lid or cover for a container.
Associated quotations
a
- (1361) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.107 : [Bequest…to any one…offering…at the tomb of S. Thomas one penny…at the shrine of S. Mary] under the vout [one penny].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.221 : Adamant stones þat were in þe fot [vr. vout] and in þe arches [L in arcubus testudinum sive fornicibus arcuatis] aboute drowe euen þe yren eueriche to his side, so þat þe yren ymage…hyng alwey euene amydde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.71 : In þis citee is a þre chambred hous i-made of font [read: fout; vr. voute] stoones [L ex lapideis fornicibus].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.81 : In þis citee beeþ weies vnder erþe, wiþ vawtes [Higd.(2): voltes] of stoonwerk.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7203 : Alisaunder romeþ in his toun And deuiseþ to his masoun Þe toures maken and þe torels, Vavtes, alures, and þe kirnels.
- (1421) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.133 : [Also Wolseslane is common, and is stopped by a] wawt [built athwart it].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36a/b : Lacunar: a uaunt [Hrl 2270: vaute; StJ-C: volute] in hous.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)21/26 : Sodeynly fel down fro þe heyest party of þe cherch-vowte…on hir bakke a ston whech weyd iij pownd.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)512 : Vowte of a howse: Testudo, lacunar.
- (1447-8) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1354 : I wol that the edificacion of my…College…procede in large fourme…replenysshed with goodely wyndowes and vautes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)454/28 : ij bodis of þe xj ml virginys…war sett aboue a vowte in þe kurk.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4920 : I wille there be made…iij merours of glas to be sette in the myddys of ye iij woytez above my grave, wiche be redy with…other glasys and dyuerse rolles with scripture.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1475 : Dame Sapience led me…Vnto a comly Castell…In whos circuite wyth vawtes [vr. wantes] large and wyde…yset were towrys seuene.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)17a : Bowe of a Brigge: volte [Monson: wawte].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)17b : Brace of a brigge or of a vawte [Monson: wate]: sinus, Archus.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)731/26 : Archus: a vowt.
- a1500 Proc.Chanc.in Archaeol.ser.2.620 : Robard maad a bargayn with William…abbot…and John…priour…to make a vowte in the bowke of the cherche of Percyore aforeseyd, for a certeyn summe of money…And youre…besecher hath…madd the seyd vowte.
b
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)64a : Talpa: a woute.
2.
(a) A room or larger enclosed area covered by an arched structure or ceiling; an underground chamber formed by an arched structure; also, a cellar or storage room; ~ dore;
(b) a chapel or small room in a church, set aside for special uses; also, a crypt;
(c) a place of confinement; a prison cell;
(d) a covered sewer or channel for waste water.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Body & S.(3) (Trin-C B.14.39)8 : Feirliche deit him hau[i]t ino[min]; Me prikit him in on vul clohit & legget him by þe wout.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.83 : Smal stones Set vppon greet beeþ attones…vnder grounde Lotynge double vaut is i-founde.
- (1427-8) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)170 : In the seyde yeer was be Gunne…the foundement of the parlour and Chaumbre with the vawte, chemeneys, and preveis.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1299 : In roial paleisis…noblesse is nat souht, Nor in cileris nor in voutis rounde.
- (1442) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)269 : Item, payed to Robert Bemond carpenter for iij pentices ouer ij steyres and ouer the vawt dore for werkmanschyp, tymbre, and bord.
- (1447-8) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1357 : Item, the south pane…in which shal stande the halle with a vaute vnthernethe for the buterie and celer.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)16 : A uout undir þe ground…hath iiii deambulatories & euery deambulatory hath xui arches.
- (c1450) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.448/1 : The vawts of the Kings Head in Chepe.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)110.428 (v.2:p.177) : They anoon madyn hym a drynke forto vomyten with, and forthwith he kest oute a frosshe horrible to seen .., for which he did makyn a voute of lyme & stoon and made it to be kept therin.
- (1463) Dower Pekham in Archaeol.74 (Gldh Hustings Roll 196(10))156 : Also…a Shedde withoute the Este dore of the same Celer…strecchyng northwardes to the dore of the vaute ther next to the sayd gate.
b
- (1362) Will Carlisle in Cum.West.AS 971 : Item, ad le vaute beate marie in Ecclesia de Sourby, xii d.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)82/20 : Þer is a vowt vnder the chirche, where þat cristene men duellen.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)247 : He sayde a masse in a ful lowe voute.
c
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1195 : Alle tho in [read: the] preson, whiche had vowtes seuene, Was light that tyme right of his presens; The derke corneres cowde make no resistens.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)153/6 : Nero be-helde his chylde and…commaundid to kepe his chylde and welle to norryshe and that hit were Enclosid in a vaut of stone.
- a1500(?a1450) St.Dor.(1) (Hrl 5272)101 : He put here in prison in a voghte.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1607 : The water…went vnder houses, Gosshet through Godardys & other grete vautes, And clensit…þe clene Cite Of filth.
3.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1301) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames20 : Nich. del Voul [read: Vout’].
- (1313-14) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames20 : Thom. del Voute.
Note: Print MED contained a note, "quot. [(a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1) 2.71] should be deleted from font-ston n. 2.]. Quot. has been removed in e-MED.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. vault.